Writing on the ground!
John 8:6”This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.”
What did Jesus write on the ground? It is and has been a million dollar question for long! I pray God would help me put in words all that is sizzling in my heart! While I preach, I am able to get across to the people and reveal my thoughts more passionately, I hope you feel the same this morning.
The scribes and Pharisees barged into the temple while the meeting was on, with a woman caught in the act of adultery. Not that these guys were keen on revealing their passion for the law by punishing the woman caught in an adulterous act; they were seething with envy and anger against Jesus, who was by now famous rocking the town with miracles, hence they were trying to corner Him. If Jesus said, ‘forgive her’ they were ready to bounce on Him with His own words, let me tell you what Jesus had said earlier, so that you understand better:
Mathew 5:17"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."
If He had said ‘stone her’, then they would have leaped on Him with His following words:
John 3:17"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Ah listen, but Jesus said neither of the above but said something starling that was different from what those people had anticipated!
O.K. let me take a digression here and I would like to state a few things that would bless you, when the atmosphere is heated and people are waiting to bait you, my advice is to just clip your lips tight like Jesus. Mathew Henry said :”Think twice before we speak once, the heart of the wise studies to answer.” The Jews continued to nag Jesus pressing Him to take severe action against the woman. What did Jesus do? He stopped down and wrote on the ground oblivious to the noise around Him. Best thing to do. Ignore. But our flesh is burning to retaliate, argue, fight and thrash out the issue. Silence is the best way, that also gives you time to give an appropriate answer. When Jesus spoke after a while, His speech was not a pointless pastiche of words but though few were powerful! Jesus said: "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." Jesus did something else also, He wrote ‘AGAIN’ on the ground. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT! Listen up!
He wrote ‘AGAIN’!
Why did Jesus have to write again? He wrote again to expose our sins! The Jews did not grasp the meaning behind the words of Jesus or their eyes were blind to the truth or they carelessly avoiding looking at it. When your heart is full of envy, pride, malice self and anger, you cannot understand spiritual truths. Proverbs 14:6”A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it…” May we pray like David: Psalm 119: 18”Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”
Friend, if Jesus had washed His Hands off us, when we did not comprehend His first writing on the ground, then we would all have perished, but since He chose to be patient with us and write it over again, we stand today by His grace. Glory to Jesus! He never gave up on us! He kept writing over and over again until we got it! Friend, I write this devotion with obsession having tasted His forgiveness and colossal love in mammoth portions. If only He had not stooped down and written the second time for me, I would have been a wanderer on the roads instead of a preacher, teacher and a writer. You and I stand by His grace!
Going back to our lesson today, when the Jews heard the words of Jesus, they were flabbergasted, and when they looked at His words on the ground written the second time, they dropped the stone and walked out one by one. Those words were like powerful torch revealing the innermost secrets of their life: pornography, silent lust with roving eyes, hands that wrote false expense vouchers, hands that does dirty things, ears that hear obscene stuff, tongue that swears, curses silently; grudge, anger and venom stored in the secret chambers of the heart are all revealed by the all-searching-eyes of GOD! Anybody listening? Before we stand inside the church premises and throw stones on the people outside, let us take stock of our own life: what about the pirated software stored inside your computer, what about the court case pending against your own sibling over a property issue, what about the pride, the malicious talk and the black gas connection that you have, what about the false details and expenses given while filing income tax returns…the list goes on; all these tantamount to theft and corruption. When spiritual eyes get opened then we see our wretchedness instead of mocking others. The guys who were making a ruckus now walked out quietly. That’s what God would do, shut the mouth of the lions.
I know many, many have ignored my various teachings of thorough purification and consecration in every sphere of life, you cannot keep Jesus away from your office, while you dance with Him at Church. He wants to participate in all your activities. Do you understand please? Your business activities are scrutinized by Him and weighed according to the standard of His Word, if found wrong, you would be questioned one day. Mark it! Married people, stay away from illegal secret phone calls, emails, face book chats and twitter. You can keep them hidden in Face Book but God is watching you. Beware! Let your life be transparent. It may be delightful and exciting for a while but it would become a snare for you. Stay close with good believers, church and keep your spiritual life active so that you don’t fall prey to the wicked devices of the world. I state this because ‘adultery’ is rampantly increasing both in the rural and urban pockets.
He stooped down to write again to turn our eyes towards our corroded soul and life. May we repent!
Standing alone with the Messiah!
John 8:9”Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”
Now, I want to turn your attention to the woman, this part is going to truly touch you! Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst! Imagine! The adulterous woman is now left with the Messiah alone! Man, what a situation! Friend, she had a choice, she could have given a slip to Jesus and walked behind the other guys as well, Jesus had stooped down writing on the ground, He was not going to stop her, she had a choice to do that, but she opted to stay back. That’s the spirit! Jesus asked her: ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" Observe her reply: "No one, Lord." Wow! She addressed Him as Lord! The scribes and the Pharisees who were church-goers failed to understand His deity but she was able to behold His Majesty and Excellency and knew He was Lord! I wish I could stop here, but I’ve got more to tell, please read, it would give you loads and loads of blessings.
Jesus who looks at the innermost feelings and heart of a person, knew that she had received transformation in her heart. He commanded her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Wait a moment! After the man received healing in the Bethesda pool from 38 years of infirmity, Jesus again went searching for him and gave him the warning to sin no more. He did not release him without a message of transformation. Listen to the words of this man: ”The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.” (John 5:15) Jesus was keen to reveal Himself more than anything else. Jesus looked at the woman and said ‘go and sin no more.’ When you stand before Him while the others had walked away, you would go out to live a blameless and holy life. The strength is drawn from Him. HE IS THE MAGNET!
You would be able to keep your ‘Face Book’ clean and share everything cause there is nothing to hide, your mobile would be free from evil, overall your life would be a CLEAN BOOK. Hallelujah!
Mathew Henry said: “Happy are they who have no reason to be afraid of Christ's writing!”
